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Lebanon

The Lebanese crisis explainedLebanon is the most politically complex and religiously divided country in the Middle East, which is what makes it such a potentially explosive factor in an unstable region.

UNSCR 1701 which passed in August 2006, called for the disarmament of Hizballah.

Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in May 2000 encouraged some Lebanese groups to demand that Syria withdraw its forces as well. UNSCR 1559called for Syria to withdraw from Lebanon and end its interference in Lebanese affairs.

On November 13, 2006, Hezbollah-Amal-backed ministers resigned from Siniora's cabinet to protest the establishment of the international tribunal investigating the assassination of PM Rafiq Hariri in 2005, which the Siniora government, as well as the United States, have accused the Syrian intelligence service of involvement in, a charge denied by Syria.With the resignation of these cabinet ministers, and under Lebanon's constitution the Siniora government no longer legitimately holds power, as the constitution requires all Lebanese ethno-religious groups to be represented in the cabinet. They demand an increase in opposition representation in the cabinet, sufficient to hold veto power over decision making, as their requirement for returning. The government sees this as a Syrian-orchestrated move to block the establishment of the Hariri tribunal.

Following the capture of Syria from the Ottoman Empire by Anglo-Frenchforces in 1918, France received a mandate over this territory and separated outa region of Lebanon in 1920. France granted this area independence in 1943. Alengthy civil war (1975-1990) devastated the country, but Lebanon has since madeprogress toward rebuilding its political institutions. Under the Ta'if Accord -the blueprint for national reconciliation - the Lebanese established a moreequitable political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater voice inthe political process while institutionalizing sectarian divisions in thegovernment. Since the end of the war, Lebanon has conducted several successfulelections, most militias have been disbanded, and the Lebanese Armed Forces(LAF) have extended authority over about two-thirds of the country. Hizballah, aradical Shi'a organization listed by the US State Department as a ForeignTerrorist Organization, retains its weapons. During Lebanon's civil war, theArab League legitimized in the Ta'if Accord Syria's troop deployment, numberingabout 16,000 based mainly east of Beirut and in the Bekaa Valley. Damascusjustified its continued military presence in Lebanon by citing Beirut's requestsand the failure of the Lebanese Government to implement all of theconstitutional reforms in the Ta'if Accord. Israel's withdrawal from southernLebanon in May 2000, however, encouraged some Lebanese groups to demand thatSyria withdraw its forces as well. The passage of UNSCR 1559 in early October2004 - a resolution calling for Syria to withdraw from Lebanon and end itsinterference in Lebanese affairs - further emboldened Lebanese groups opposed toSyria's presence in Lebanon. The assassination of former Prime Minister RafiqHARIRI and 20 others in February 2005 led to massive demonstrations in Beirutagainst the Syrian presence ("the Cedar Revolution"). Syria finally withdrew theremainder of its military forces from Lebanon in April 2005. In May-June 2005,Lebanon held its first legislative elections since the end of the civil war freeof foreign interference, handing a majority to the bloc led by Saad HARIRI, theslain prime minister's son. Hizballah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers in July2006 leading to a 34-day conflict with Israel. UNSCR 1701, which passed inAugust 2006, called for the disarmament of Hizballah.